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See more objects with the tag light, spectrum, flames, solar, color theory, spectroscope, color chemistry.

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Book, Spectrum Analysis

This is a Book. It was written by Henry E. Roscoe.

This object is not part of the Cooper Hewitt's permanent collection. It was able to spend time at the museum on loan from Smithsonian Libraries and Archives as part of Saturated: The Allure and Science of Color.

It is dated 1869. Its medium is lithograph on paper.

When a pure metal is burned and viewed through a spectroscope (an instrument used to measure the wavelengths of light refracted or diffracted from an object) each element gives off unique spectra, a sort of color fingerprint. Spectral analysis led to the discovery of new elements, and allowed scientists to determine the composition of distant planets and stars.

It is credited Smithsonian Libraries, QC451 .R793.

$Book, Opticks, or, A Treatise of the Reflections, Refractions, Inflexions and Colours of Light. . . .$

Book, Opticks, or, A Treatise of the Reflections, Refractions, Inflexions and...
letterpress and engraving on paper.
Gift of Burndy Library, Smithsonian Libraries, QC353 .N56 1704.
92.2016.35

Plate from the book Ars Magna et Umbr (The Great Art of Light and Shadow) from 1671 showing page 49. Black Latin text in two vertical columns runs down the page just slightly left of center, as in a newspaper. In the upper portion the text is split by a diagram showing seven inter-linking arcs forming an umbrella-like shape, with the edge of each arc corresponding to a word and words printed in capitals on each curve. Beneath is a four column table before the continuation of the main text. A number of hand-written notes can be seen in the margins on either side.

Book, Ars magna lucis et umbr (The Great Art of Light and Shadow), 1671
letterpress and engraving on paper.
Smithsonian Libraries, Q155 .K56X 1671.
92.2016.46

Drawing (USA)
color pencil, graphite on cream wove paper.
Gift of the Estate of John De Cesare.
1982-25-65

Our curators have highlighted 4 objects that are related to this one. Here are three of them, selected at random:

Bookplate which uses color to illustrate rhythm with a colored rectangle in the center formed from several different brightly colored geometric shapes overlayed on one another: including a yellow inverted triangle, a dark blue triangle, red and blue vertical rectangles, a small green triangle, brown diagonal rectangles, and very small purple, pink, yellow and orange triangles.

Drawing, Blue-green Rhythm, from The Mathematical Basis of the Arts
brush and tempera on illustration board.
Gift of Mrs. Joseph Schillinger.
1966-33-4

Textile, Spectrum
cotton.
Gift of Jack Lenor Larsen, Inc..
1960-170-2

Color Wheel
oil paint on composition board.
Gift of Hilaire Hiler.
1960-244-1

Its dimensions are

H x W (open): 24 × 62 cm (9 7/16 × 24 7/16 in.)

This object was previously on display as a part of the exhibition Saturated: The Allure and Science of Color.

Short URL http://cprhw.tt/o/2FYCJn/
Accession Number 92.2016.49
Object ID 1108749945